Prediction of High Methane-Recovery Regions and Gas Extraction Technology Based on Geodynamic Zoning of Bowels

An analysis is performed for the existing hypotheses and theories used for calculating the technological parameters of operations on methane extraction from coal seams. The priority of geodynamic processes in methane collector formation, as well as the methods applied for the morphometry and processing of the remote probing data are substantiated. The urgency is shown for the investigation into the autooxidation and other exothermic reactions proceeding in coal seams and leading to methane transition to the free state.     

'EUROPART'. Airborne particles in the indoor environment. A European interdisciplinary review of scientific evidence on associations between exposure to particles in buildings and health effects

The relevance of particle mass, surface area or number concentration as risk indicators for health effects in non-industrial buildings has been assessed by a European interdisciplinary group of researchers (called EUROPART) by reviewing papers identified in Medline, Toxline, and OSH. Studies dealing with dermal effects or cancer or specifically addressing environmental tobacco smoke, house dust-mite, cockroach or animal allergens, microorganisms and pesticides were excluded. A total of 70 papers were reviewed, and eight were identified for the final review: Five experimental studies involving mainly healthy subjects, two cross-sectional office studies and one longitudinal study among elderly on cardiovascular effects. From most studies, no definite conclusions could be drawn. Overall, the group concluded that there is inadequate scientific evidence that airborne, indoor particulate mass or number concentrations can be used as generally applicable risk indicators of health effects in non-industrial buildings and consequently that there is inadequate scientific evidence for establishing limit values or guidelines for particulate mass or number concentrations.     

Characterization of particulate emissions from occupant activities in offices

This paper characterizes the relationship between occupant activities and indoor air particulate levels in a non-smoking office building. Occupant activities were recorded on video. Particulate concentrations were monitored by three optical particle counters (OPCs) in five size ranges at three heights. Particulate mass concentrations were measured gravimetrically and bioaerosol concentrations were determined by impaction methods. Occupant activities and number concentrations were determined with 1-min resolution over a 1-week period. Occupant activities such as walking past or visiting the monitoring site explained 24-55% of the variation of 1- to 25-micron diameter particle number concentrations. Statistical models associating particulate concentrations with occupant activities depended on the size fraction and included an autocorrelative term. Occupant activities are estimated to contribute up to 10 micrograms m-3 in particulate concentrations per person. Number concentrations of particles smaller than 1 micron had little correlation with indoor activities other than cigarette smoking and were highly correlated with outdoor levels. The method can be used to characterize emissions from activities if rapid measurements can be made and if activities can be coded from the video record.     

A study of a water-reducing agent from cashew nutshell liquid

The water-reducing agent better known as superplasticizer is a recent development. A number of base materials have been used for the development of such water-reducing agents which can act better than ordinary plasticizers in concrete. The sulphonated salts of melamine, napthalene, lignin, hydroxycarboxylic acids and hydroxylated polymers are some typical compounds. Recently cashew nutshell liquid obtained from a natural product waste as a thick black phenolic compound has been converted into a water-reducing agent. This paper describes the results obtained on its effectiveness in influencing the rheological properties of flow, viscosity, particle size distribution, etc, of cement particles in hydrating cements and the water-reducing capabilities in cement mortars and concretes.     

Effect of agitation, turbidity, aluminium foil reflectors and container volume on the inactivation efficiency of batch-process solar disinfectors

We report the results of experiments designed to improve the efficacy of the solar disinfection of drinking water, inactivation process. The effects of periodic agitation, covering the rear surface of the container with aluminium foil, container volume and turbidity on the solar inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli (starting population = 10(6) CFU ml(-1)) were investigated. It was shown that agitation promoted the release of dissolved oxygen from water with subsequent decrease in the inactivation rates of E. coli. In contrast, covering the rear surface of the solar disinfection container with aluminium foil improved the inactivation efficiency of the system. The mean decay constant for bacterial populations in foil-backed bottles was found to be a factor of 1.85 (std. dev. = 0.43) higher than that of non-foil-backed bottles. Inactivation rates decrease as turbidity increases. However, total inactivation was achievable in 300 NTU samples within 8 h exposure to strong sunshine. Inactivation kinetics was not dependent on the volume of the water container for volumes in the range 500-1500 ml.     

Elimination of beta-blockers in sewage treatment plants

beta-Blockers are used to treat high blood pressure as well as patients recovering from heart attacks. In several studies, they were detected in surface water, thus indicating incomplete degradability of these substances in sewage treatment plants (STPs). In this study, we determined the sorption coefficients (K(D)) and degradation rates of the four beta-blockers sotalol, atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol in sludge from an STP operating with municipal wastewater. The sorption coefficients (K(D), standard deviations in brackets) were determined as 0.04(+/-0.035), 0.04(+/-0.033), 0.00(+/-0.023) and 0.32(+/-0.058) Lg(-1)(COD), and the pseudo-first-order degradation rate constants were estimated to be 0.29(+/-0.02), 0.69(+/-0.05), 0.58(+/-0.05) and 0.39(+/-0.07) Ld(-1)g(-1)(COD) for sotalol, atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol, respectively. These values translate into a typical elimination in STPs (sludge concentrations of 4g(COD)L(-1) and a hydraulic retention time of 6h) of 25%, 37%, 44% and 50% for sotalol, propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol, respectively. These results are also confirmed by measurements in two municipal STPs for atenolol, sotalol and propranolol. The estimated eliminations are slightly too high for metoprolol.     

Reproducibility of indoor environment characteristics obtained in a walk through questionnaire. A pilot study

Walk through questionnaires may be feasible tools to obtain data on the indoor environment in community studies. However, limited information is available regarding the reproducibility of the data obtained through these questionnaires. In this pilot study, two construction engineering students inspected ten dwellings twice by means of a standardized walk through questionnaire. The two engineering students inspected the dwellings independent of each other within two months. Time between the two visits varied between 14 and 40 days. The variables presented were based on information from the residents and inspection. The continuous variables recorded included number of rooms in the dwellings, room volume, length of filled shelves and textile area. The inter- and intra-observed variabilities were poorer for number of rooms and shelf factor than for the other variables. For the 3 of the 9 categorical variables based on inspection, the inter-observer comparison showed complete agreement with a kappa statistics of 1.0, these variables being condition of the window frames and construction of outside walls and roof. One of the categorical variables showed a kappa statistics of < 0.5, these variables being presence of basement and presence of condensation at windows. This study indicates a wide variation in observer variability between various items of a walk through questionnaire. Clear definitions of all the parts of the questionnaire are needed, as well as thorough training of observers.